AGC gets approval to drill well for new nine-hole golf course

‘Little Darling Project’ will benefit youth and businesses, says AGC

By Al Edenloff aedenloff@echopress.com

ALEXANDRIA — The Alexandria Golf Club will be able to build a new well for a new nine-hole, par-3 golf course.

At its July 24 meeting, the Alexandria City Council granted the AGC an exemption of the city’s prohibition of drilling any new private wells for domestic or industrial use.

This will allow the AGC to install a 12-inch irrigation well on its property at 2300 North Nokomis NE for the yet-

Executive

From Page 1 played and now finds himself in the next round. Black birdied the 12th, (as did Wessel), 13th, 14th, 15th, 1st and 2nd holes in his round.

O’Donnell def. Bull, 5-3

The No. 20 seed Kerry O’Donnell held a 1-up lead over the No. 13 seed Eric Bull after nine holes, but a strong showing on holes 1 through 7 gave him the win over Bull.

O’Donnell won holes 1 and 6 with a birdie and holes 3 and 5 with pars to advance to the next round.

Hoops def. Wahlin, 5-4

The No. 5 seed Bryan Hoops won the first four holes over the No. 28 seed, Josh Wahlin, in their match on Wednesday. Through four holes, Hoop has three birdies, and on the 15th, he recorded his fifth.

Wahlin won hole 16, but Hoops won hole 4, and the match ended after both players pared on hole 5.

D. Johnson def. Hacker, 3-2 to-be-constructed par-3 course, which is referred to as the “Little Darling Project.”

The No. 21 seed Dan Johnson had a 1-up lead over the No. 12 seed Chad Hacker after one hole on Wednesday.

The ALP Utilities Board of Public Utilities and the council take into account several criteria when reviewing exemption applications. They include availability of a water service stub (which there is); proof that city water is detrimental to property or operations; the relationship of the exemption to the city’s wellhead protection plan.

On a 4-1 vote, the council allowed the exemption based on the criteria and other findings of fact: The AGC’s application suggests that city water is not appropriate for golf course turfgrass irrigation; the

Hacker, who was the runner-up in last year’s championship, won holes 13 and 14, but Johnson tied the match with a win on the 18th.

Johnson then won the next three out of four holes, and with wins on holes 6 and 7, earned the 3-2 win.

Mulvahill def. T. Johnson, 4-3

Mulvahill started his day strong with wins on holes 10, 12, 16, and 18 to head into the final nine holes with a 4-up lead.

Johnson chipped away at the deficit with a win on hole 1, but Mulvahill answered with a birdie on hole 2.

Johnson once again chipped away at Mulvahill’s lead with a win on hole 4, but Mulvahill birdied the fifth hole to go back up by four holes.

Both golfers pared the 6th hole, which gave Mulvahill the win.

Mulvahill, who played college golf at St. Thomas, converted four birdies on the day and had just one bogey. Muilvahill won the Resorters Men’s Regular 2nd Flight in 2021.

Pokorney def. Bisson, 4-3

The No. 15 seed Sam Pokorney birdied the first two holes of his round and never looked back in his 4-3 win

Board of Public Utilities considered the application and voted 3-2 to recommend the council to grant the exemption; AGC’s concerns about the use of city water for golf course turfgrass irrigation is evidence that municipal water would be detrimental to AGC’s property or operations.

In its application, the AGC said that city water would have a high mineral content that is less optimal for turfgrass, landscape plant and landscape wells. “Using municipal water to irrigate the Little Darling par-3 course would be inefficient, costly and arguably, a poor use of natural resources available to the community,” said Jerry Rose, Little

Darling Project chair and AGC board member, in a letter to the city.

The new course will be operated as a separate entity from the AGC and no operational funds from the current core golf course will be used to support the Little Darling par-3 course.

The AGC’s long-term vision is to partner with neighboring schools, such as Voyager Elementary, to create additional learning and outside enjoyment for students, Rose said.

Alexandria Golf Club owns approximately 50 acres of property located to the south of its maintenance facility, driving range and hole 8 and 9 of the existing golf course. The property was leased as farmland for many years and has been placed in the Conservation Reserve Program in recent years.

The AGC plans to build the course on approximately 18 of the 50 acres.

According to the AGC, the natural topography of the property “is magnificent and will be an incredible venue for a world class par-3 course that will provide significant benefits to our community, our youth, and our local businesses.” over the No. 18 seed Chad Bisson.

Bisson cut his deficit to 1-up with a win on hole 13, but Pokorney won holes 14, 16, 18, and 1 to take a 5-up lead.

Bisson won the third hole, but both golfers pared the next four holes, and the match ended on the 6th hole.

Norgaard def. Crosby, 7-6 7th-seeded Matt Norgaard took control of his match against 26th-seeded Craig Crosby early as he won the first five out of six holes and led 1-up.

Norgaard won the 17th hole with a birdie, then the 2nd and 3rd hole with pars.

A. Johnson def. Decko, 4-2

Through nine holes, the match between the No. 10 seed Andrew Johnson and No. 23 seed Jeremy Decko was even after Decko birdied the 18th hole.

But with wins on holes 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, Andrew Johnson earned the 4-2 win over Decko.

Schomer def. Chad Johnson, 4-3

After the No. 30 Chad Johnson won the 18th hole, Schomer’s lead was cut down to 2-up after nine holes.

Schomer responded well with birdies on holes 1 and 2, but Chad Johnson just wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Johnson won holes 3 and 4 to cut Schomer’s lead down to two holes.

But Schomer won holes 5 and 6 with a par and birdie, respectively, to seal the 4-3 win.

Schomer is a fourtime Men’s Executive division winner (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017) and finished runner-up in 2018 and 2021.

G. Klein def. Heimsness, 4-3

The No. 14 seed Geoff Klein got things started on the right foot with wins on holes 10 and 11, both of which were birdies.

But the No. 19 Eric Heimsness swung the momentum of the match with wins on holes 13, 14, and 15, two of which came by birdies.

Geoff Klein responded swiftly, winning holes 18, 1, 2, 3, and 5, and went on to win 4-3.

Geoff Klein won holes 1, 2, 3, and 5 with birdies.

Sauer def. Heimerman, 6-5

Much like Klein did, the No. 6 seed Joe Sauer had a great finish to win his match over the No. 27 seed, Tom Heimerman.

After Sauer won the first two holes,

Heimerman won holes 12 and 16 to even the match through seven holes.

But with wins on holes 17, 18, 1, 2, and 4, Sauer won the match 6-5. The match ended after the fifth hole.

Schultz def. Matt Fischer, 6-5

Cory Schultz played bogey-free golf in his win over the No. 11 seed Matt Fischer, Schultz, the No. 22 seed, didn’t lose a hole and won holes 10, 12, 14, 17, 1, 2, and 3, to win the match 6-5.

Schultz shot 2-under through 13 holes.

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